SkillsUSA TCAT Chattanooga

03/21/2026

02/14/2026

⭐️ A few reminders for state competitors ⭐️

• Get with your advisors if you need contest attire. Do not go to TCAT 5 to get a uniform without your advisor with you.

• February 16th-24th, Online testing window for Professional Development. Make sure to get with your advisor to schedule. Mike sent out a study guide, if you did not receive it, send him an email.

• March 11th, ✨MANDATORY✨meeting for state competitors and advisors at 3pm in HSC 1087.

• March 13th, Contestants in Medical Math, Medical Terminology, and Related Technical Math will submit their resumes to Mike. Please save your file as a pdf, so the formatting won't change. Send your resume to Mike digitally by email and copy your advisor, so they know this has been completed.

• March 16th-18th, state competition. Make sure to look at the email to find out what day and time your orientation is, but also your competition! Look at your individual technical standards sent in the email to ensure the most points possible.

02/14/2026

Attention all SkillsUSA members:
Please plan to join us for our Community Service Project this Sunday afternoon, February 15 at 2:00 pm.

The Regency House
2062 Hamill Road
Hixson, TN 37343

09/10/2025

⭐ 𝑨𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒏𝒊 𝑺𝒑𝒐𝒕𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘: Elizabeth Berberich ⭐
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦: Automotive Service Technology, Class of 2024
Electric Vehicle Engineering Technology, Class of 2025
𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫: Rick Swafford
𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐫: Capital Toyota and Chattanooga State Community College

𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐨𝐠𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞:
I was the Vice President of TCAT's SkillsUSA chapter and after graduation became an Automotive Adjunct Professor.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐔𝐒𝐀?
I attended Tennessee leadership conferences, competed in Job Interview and won at the state level, and participated in the Models of Excellence competition at the national leadership conference.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐔𝐒𝐀 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬?
SkillsUSA provided a great opportunity to network, gain confidence, and strengthen team-working skills.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫?
Promotion from a porter to a cashier, scheduler, and currently training as a warranty clerk.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲?
Mentoring future competitors and adjunct professor for the Automotive Service Technology program.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐔𝐒𝐀 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠?
Make the most of this opportunity to network.

🚀

08/06/2025

⭐ 𝑨𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒏𝒊 𝑺𝒑𝒐𝒕𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘: Karli James ⭐
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦: Medical Assisting, Class of 2023
𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫: Cynthia Rutledge
𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐫: Galen North Pediatrics (currently working through HCDE S.A.C.C. program)

𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐨𝐠𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞: I was the chapter Reporter for TCAT Chattanooga and President of the Medical Assisting Class.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐔𝐒𝐀?
I competed in Opening and Closing Ceremonies at both the state and national levels, attended the Washington Leadership Training Institute, and met with several legislators.
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐔𝐒𝐀 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬?
SkillsUSA has helped boost my confidence in public speaking, and has taught me many workplace skills that have benefited me in both my job as a medical professional and also working in childcare. Some of these skills include, decision making, communication, and leadership.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫?
I graduated the Medical Assisting program in 2023, I then went on to further my education and major in Pre-Nursing. I decided this path was not for me, and I am currently an Elementary Education major. I will graduate this fall from Chattanooga State, and further my education at Tennessee Tech. This has been the best decision I have made for myself, and I can not wait to become a teacher!
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲?
I volunteer at my church and attend fundraiser walks in our community for various causes.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐔𝐒𝐀 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠?
Be bold! Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. It might feel scary at first but in the long run you will gain so much confidence. Be involved in all the events you can!

🚀

07/18/2025

⭐ 𝑨𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒏𝒊 𝑺𝒑𝒐𝒕𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘: Zach Letbetter ⭐
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦: Computer Support Technician, Class of 2023
𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬: Mike Mercer and Rex Weeks
𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐫: University of Tennessee Chattanooga
𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Telecomm and Infrastructure Technician

𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐨𝐠𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞: I was a local officer and part of the Washington, DC delegation representing TCAT Chattanooga.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐔𝐒𝐀? I was part of the Quiz Bowl team in 2023, winning Gold at the State Competition and Bronze at the National Competition.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐔𝐒𝐀 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬? SkillsUSA has helped me develop my leadership skills. Additionally, I have become a stronger advocate for vocational education, which has helped when working with our student workers. I have been able to take on a wide variety of projects and responsibilities, which has set me apart among my team.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫? I helped restructure campus VoIP systems, and have been heading up the deployment of new devices. I am now the second administrator for our phone and VoIP systems.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲? I have judged for the SkillsUSA state competitions, and sit on the Computer Support Technician Advisory Board.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐔𝐒𝐀 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠? SkillsUSA is a gateway to a community that provides skills and connections that help further not only your own skills, but also make you a better part of the community. Remember to stay connected to that community. Make connections and friends, they will take you far.

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07/17/2025

Last month, Chattanooga State Community College students took to the national stage to show off career-ready excellence at the 2025 SkillsUSA Championships in Atlanta. Held June 23-28, SkillsUSA’s National Championship is the country’s premier career and technical education (CTE) event. The Nati...